What is it with the Germans and numbers? In the past, the second and third number in a vehicle designation referred to the size of the engine. However, as more variants were introduced, these numbers had little relation to the size of the engine under the hood. The one constant was that, the bigger the number, the more money you spent.

Audi is about to join the numbering fray with a standardized global nomenclature denoting the specific power output of the powerplant. It will be used with gasoline, diesel, hybrid and electric drive systems, and creates subclassifications within each range, from A1 to Q7. The number denotes the power output range in kilowatts. Thus, the number “30” will be used on all vehicles producing between 81 and 96 kW. The number “45” covers power outputs between 169 and 185 kW, and so on. As if this isn’t stupidly confusing enough, the numbers will increase in units of five, appear alongside the engine technology used (TFSI, TDI, e-tron, etc.), and represent the hierarchy in both the model series and Audi’s total model range.

Based on the current model range, the lowest vehicle on the totem pole would be the A1 25 TSFI, while the highest among non-specialty models would be the new A8 55 TFSI. Just to make things more confusing, Audi says that R and RS models, as well as the R8, will retain their current designations. Each new model will use the new naming convention. Current models will adopt the new system next summer. — CAS